Reds shut out Indians in Ohio Cup series victory

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) is congratulated by Todd Frazier at the plate after scoring on a Jay Bruce single, followed by a throwing error on Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) during the first inning.(Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Homer Bailey pitched brilliantly Thursday night – and survived a scary moment with his jaw bruised but his sense of humor in tact.

Bailey went seven innings in a 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians before a crowd of 31,862 at Great American Ball Park. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out eight to earn his first win since June 29.

This could have been an entirely different story. In the fifth, Jose Ramirez hit a line drive right at Bailey's head. It went off his jaw. He recovered the ball and threw to first. Ramirez reached when Todd Frazier dropped the ball. Manager Bryan Price and trainer Paul Lessard came out to check on Bailey. He stayed in and retired the next five in a row.

"It got me on the jaw," Bailey said. "Hell, I've been bit worse by bed bugs down in Saltillo."

Saltillo is a town in Mexico. The bed bugs would have to be huge to leave the big red mark Bailey had on his jaw. He also had the imprint of the seams from the ball. Bailey admitted he was a bit shaken up.

"You see that light in your eyes when you get hit real hard in the head," Bailey said. "You just try to find the ball. I almost caught it. I think I surprised Frazier by throwing it over there. It's just part of it. I don't think we need protective hats. It's part of the game."

Bailey (9-5) has 1.62 ERA over his last seven starts. To say he's had a little hard luck in that span is an understatement. The Reds won only the first and last of the seven.

The Reds took the Ohio Cup with three straight wins over over the Indians. The Reds had a question afterward.

"Where's the Cup," Todd Frazier asked. "Does it exist?"

No one was sure.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Kris Negron (17) follows through on an RBI single off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher T.J. House (58) during the sixth inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) throws to first from his knees after getting hit by a ball off the bat of Cleveland Indians second baseman Jose Ramirez (11) during the fifth inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) grimaces while on his knees after making a throw to first, which was bobbled by first baseman Todd Frazier, allowing Cleveland Indians second baseman Jose Ramirez (11) to take the base during the fifth inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier (21)is congratulated by Ramon Santiago (7) after scoring on a single by second baseman Kris Negron (17), off the Cleveland Indians starting pitcher T.J. House (58) during the sixth inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell reacts as his honorary first pitch strays from the plate before the Cincinnati Reds-Cleveland Indians game played at Great American Ball Park Thursday. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) makes the tag on Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) at second base on a double play during the first inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) is safe at third, after advancing from first on a ball off the bat of Jay Bruce as Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (8), right, can't handle the throw from first, scoring Hamilton, during the first inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) is congratulated by Todd Frazier at the plate after scoring on a Jay Bruce single, followed by a throwing error on Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) during the first inning. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

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"I've heard a lot about the Ohio Cup," Price said. "I've never actually seen it. It will be out in the middle of the clubhouse when we actually find this Cup. We'll enjoy it."

It was the seventh time in eight games that the Reds have held the opposition to three runs or fewer. The Reds, not coincidentally, are 6-2 over that span.

The Reds took the lead in the first. Billy Hamilton led off with a single to left. Jay Bruce followed with a grounder that would have been right at shortstop – if the Indians had not been in the shift. But with the shift on, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall had to go to his right to field it.

Bruce beat the throw to first. With third uncovered, Hamilton kept going. First baseman Carlos Santana's throw to third was wild. Hamilton scored and Bruce ended up at third.

T.J. House got the next batter , but Ryan Ludwick came through with a two-out RBI single. It was Ludwick's sixth RBI in his last six starts.

Reds manager Bryan Price said both the Reds and the Indians benefit from their respective home field advantage, so Johnny Cueto picked a good away game to pitch well.

The Reds added a run in the second. Bailey singled with two outs. Hamilton followed with a shot into the left-center gap. Bailey scored and Hamilton was intent on following him. He rounded the bag aggressively – even as third base coach Steve Smith put up the stop sign. Hamilton slipped trying to get back. Still, the Reds had a 3-0 lead.

House kept the Reds in check until the sixth. Todd Frazier led off with a walk. He stole second with Kristopher Negron at the plate. Negron singled into right to make it 4-0.

"It's important to get those add-on runs," Price said.

Negron went 7-for-13 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI in the series. He was voted Most Outstanding Player in the Cup series.

"Thank you, everybody," Negron said. "It's nice to be acknowledged. It was a big series and a good series for us."

Bailey had an adventurous first. He gave up a hit to leadoff man Jason Kipnis on an 0-2 pitch. Bailey got a double play, then gave up a double and a walk. He struck out Chisenhall to strand the runners.

Aside from the ball to the jaw in the fifth, Bailey cruised. He only gave up two hits from second to the seventh.

"When we score runs, I just try to get us back in the dugout as fast at I can," Bailey said. "We had that guys on the ropes a little bit. We've been hitting the ball good the last couple of days. Just try to get them back in the dugout and let them do their thing."